Drawing attention to the impact of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on children’s right to life and fundamental freedoms, Human Rights Expert Huriye Yıldız Kantaroğlu said the ceasefire had not ended the crisis. Kantaroğlu argued that the war’s consequences for the future of society were continuing.
Access to aid and essential services
Kantaroğlu said that nearly the entire population of Gaza, which has been displaced multiple times, was facing serious problems accessing food, shelter and health care. She said the growing need for aid and restrictions on access to assistance due to the blockade were among the main factors deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The ceasefire agreement dated October 10, 2025, provided for the passage of 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day, the return home of displaced Palestinians, including those from the northern areas, the restoration of water and electricity services, and the start of repairs to infrastructure and hospitals. Kantaroğlu argued that these provisions had not been implemented and said humanitarian aid was a vital need requiring continuity rather than a temporary response.
Kantaroğlu said economic activity in Gaza had collapsed and that external aid was needed to meet basic needs, adding that access to food and clean water were the most critical problems. She noted that malnutrition was causing serious health problems and deaths, particularly among infants and children.
Housing and health crises worsened by destruction
The complete destruction or severe damage to buildings has caused a widespread housing crisis in Gaza. Kantaroğlu said tent camps established as a temporary solution had become permanent living spaces, adding that heat, cold, rain and flooding posed serious risks to those living there.
Restrictions on the entry of construction materials have also prevented the establishment of more durable temporary solutions, such as containers and prefabricated structures. Kantaroğlu said the collapse of electricity, mains water and sewage systems had worsened hygiene and health problems.
Kantaroğlu said hospitals providing health care had become unusable and argued that, in addition to shortages of medical supplies, allegations that health workers had been detained or killed were placing further strain on the health system. She said restrictions on leaving Gaza for medical treatment were causing treatable health problems to worsen and leading to the loss of organs or limbs.
Protecting children and concerns about the future
Kantaroğlu said children in Gaza were facing hunger, malnutrition, cold, inadequate housing conditions, severe injuries and a lack of medical intervention. She said these conditions posed risks in terms of infectious diseases and deaths, and recalled that under international law, children are among the groups that must be given priority protection in emergencies such as war and natural disasters.
Kantaroğlu said Palestinian children were struggling with permanent disabilities, chronic illnesses and psychological problems, noting that they were being deprived of fundamental childhood rights, including the right to play. She said kites, which had become a symbol of freedom and the joy of living for children in Gaza, were being associated with warplanes, bombs and missiles in the sky where children should be flying them.
Kantaroğlu argued that the mass killing and maiming of children and their deprivation of education were affecting the future of society, adding that this could also prevent future doctors, engineers and teachers from being trained.
Call for international mechanisms to act
Kantaroğlu argued that Israel’s failure to implement decisions by international institutions and those institutions’ failure to activate their sanctions mechanisms were allowing human rights violations to continue. She said the veto power held by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council was one of the main obstacles to adopting sanctions decisions.
Kantaroğlu said ethical and diplomatic mechanisms needed to be activated to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and launch the reconstruction process. She added that supporting the people of Gaza was a shared responsibility of humanity.
